‘Skill’ or ‘fitness’: The yo-yo debate

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The Yo-Yo test which was recently in news for its complexity is getting buzz lately. Owing to the test, some players who performed well, could not get a chance to play for the Indian team. This has sparked off a debate on what is the prerequisite- skill or fitness. Through this article, we try to take a look at this aspect and what the future holds. Earlier times used to have beep test but that was never the only criteria for selection, unlike today.

The Case

The CoA chief, Vinod Rai, is not happy with yo-yo test being the only criteria of selection. The recent case of Ambati Rayudu, who was one of the highest run-getters in the last edition of IPL, was dropped from the Indian squad failing to pass the yo-yo test. Many voices are coming, saying that skill gets left behind in this judging of fitness. Their argument says that this test will not increase the capacity of the player to hit sixes. Another player to miss out, Sanju Samson, had a fairly bad IPL this time around but he boasts of skills one can’t doubt.

Increased purview

With the technology getting advanced players are more vulnerable than ever. One may argue that what effect does fitness have on skill but the case is otherwise. The major physical components of cricket are based around aerobics, strength, speed, so how fit, fast and strong they are. Also, once a player gets into shape to routinely pass the yo-yo test, he will find it will improve his batting ability, because you recover better between runs running ones, twos, threes. It is more like an increased confidence, that boosts you up, to do more hard work. Similarly, a player feels fit physically, he gets a surety of fewer injuries. Now, he can train harder. And as we know increase endurance hold some importance in the game of Cricket too.

All things considered, the decision of having a fitness test, as a criterion of selection, cannot be plainly ruled out. While the running between the wickets gets improved, a fit player can also end endure long hours of training.